Do electricians need a license in South Dakota?

Yes. South Dakota requires state-level licensing or registration for electricians, administered by the South Dakota Electrical Commission. See the licensing section above for credential types and current requirements.

What apprenticeships are available for electricians in South Dakota?

In South Dakota, registered apprenticeships are administered through the South Dakota Department of Labor - Registered Apprenticeship, which works with employers and trade union locals to register programs. See the apprenticeship section above for office contact details.

How to Become an Electrician in South Dakota (2026)

Q: How much do electricians earn in South Dakota?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), electricians in South Dakota earned a median annual wage of approximately $61,390. Employment concentration in South Dakota is about 1.34 times the national average for this occupation.

Q: What is the job outlook for electricians in South Dakota?

South Dakota currently employs approximately 2,980 workers, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 9.5% national employment change for this occupation from 2024 to 2034.

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

South Dakota electricians earn a median annual wage of $61,390 ($29.51/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 2,980 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately -2.8% below the national median of $63,190 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $61,390 ($29.51/hr)
25th percentile: $49,660 per year
75th percentile: $72,450 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $80,060 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $44,320 per year
Workers employed in South Dakota: 2,980
Versus national median: -2.8% below the U.S. median of $63,190
Job concentration: Location quotient 1.34 - this occupation is more concentrated in South Dakota than the national average

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Last reviewed June 8, 2026.

South Dakota employs about 2,980 electricians earning a median $61,390 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Training as an electrician here means working through a trade school or registered apprenticeship and meeting the South Dakota Electrical Commission credentialing requirements.

South Dakota employs approximately 2,980 electricians according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $61,390 ¹. The state’s concentration of electrician jobs is 1.34x the national average, indicating strong demand. Nationally, electrician employment is projected to grow 9.5% from 2024 to 2034, with about 81,000 openings per year ². This page covers how to become an Electrician in South Dakota, including licensing requirements, training programs, and salary data.

At a Glance

Training paths: trade school, community college, or apprenticeship
Typical timeline: 1 to 5 years depending on the path
Licensing authority: South Dakota Electrical Commission
Median wage (South Dakota): $61,390 per year ¹

Quick Answers About How to Become an Electrician in South Dakota

How to become an Electrician in South Dakota? South Dakota requires credentials such as Electrician, Journeyman, Apprentice Electrician, Maintenance Electrician. The licensing authority is the South Dakota Electrical Commission ³. You also need to complete an approved training program or apprenticeship.

How long does it take? Most paths into the electrician field take 1 to 5 years, depending on whether you complete a trade school program, a registered apprenticeship, or a combination of both.

Do I need a license in South Dakota? Yes. South Dakota has licensing or registration requirements for electricians. The South Dakota Electrical Commission oversees licensing ³. See the licensing section below for details.

What do electricians earn in South Dakota? The median annual wage for electricians in South Dakota is $61,390 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $44,320 and experienced professionals can earn $80,060 or more ¹.

How to Become an Electrician in South Dakota

Finish high school or earn a GED. Most South Dakota training programs and registered apprenticeships require a high school diploma or GED to enroll.
Complete a training program or apprenticeship. Enroll in an approved trade school program or a registered apprenticeship in South Dakota that combines classroom instruction with supervised hands-on hours.
Gain supervised work experience. Build documented on-the-job hours under a qualified supervisor; confirm the exact total currently required with the licensing board.
Pass the state exam and apply for your license. Apply to the South Dakota Electrical Commission, pass the required examination, and obtain the electrician credential before working unsupervised in South Dakota.

Steps and hour totals vary by credential level; confirm current requirements with the state board before you apply.

Electrician License Requirements in South Dakota

The South Dakota Electrical Commission oversees electrician licensing in South Dakota ³.

License Types

License	Requirements
Electrician, Journeyman	A person having the necessary qualifications, training, technical knowledge and at least four years’ experience in wiring, installing, and repairing electrical apparatus and equipment.
Apprentice Electrician	A person learning the trade under the supervision and employment of an electrical contractor, journeyman electrician or Class B electrician, or a person learning the trade.
Maintenance Electrician	A person working under a maintenance electrician’s license of a public entity, firm, partnership, limited liability company, or corporation.
Class B Electrician	A person having the necessary qualifications, training, technical knowledge and at least thirty-six months’ experience in wiring, installing and repairing electrical apparatus and equipment.
Electrical Inspector	A person having the necessary qualifications, training, technical knowledge and at least four years’ experience in wiring, installing, and repairing electrical apparatus and equipment.

License information sourced from CareerOneStop ⁴.

Electrician Apprenticeship Information in South Dakota

Apprenticeships combine paid on-the-job training with classroom instruction and typically last 3 to 5 years. South Dakota’s apprenticeship program is administered by the South Dakota Department of Labor - Registered Apprenticeship ⁵.

Contact Information:

Office: StartTodaySD Apprenticeship Program
Address: 123 West Missouri Avenue, Pierre, SD 57501
Phone: (605) 910-7031
Email: [email protected]

Electrician Wages by Metro Area in South Dakota

Electricians Wages by Metro Area in South Dakota

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), electricians wages in South Dakota vary by metro area.

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Sioux Falls	1,330	$61,470	$62,220	$46,150	$80,860
Rapid City	460	$61,160	$60,530	$40,540	$78,540
Sioux City	300	$73,910	$68,740	$46,600	$84,930

Wages reflect survey data and vary based on experience, credentials, employer, and local market conditions. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May .

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for electricians in South Dakota? South Dakota currently employs approximately 2,980 electricians ¹. Nationally, electrician employment is projected to grow 9.5% from 2024 to 2034 ².

Can I work as an electrician in South Dakota with an out-of-state license? Contact the South Dakota Electrical Commission for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.

What training programs are available in South Dakota? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and apprenticeship programs. Use the school finder above to search for programs in South Dakota. You can also contact the South Dakota Department of Labor - Registered Apprenticeship for apprenticeship opportunities.

How much do electricians earn in South Dakota compared to the national average? The median annual wage for electricians in South Dakota is $61,390, which is $960 below the national median of $62,350 according to BLS data ¹.

In South Dakota

Best Trade Schools in South Dakota (2026)

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Citations

About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.

References

Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/oes/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
Bureau of Labor Statistics - Employment Projections: https://www.bls.gov/emp/ ↩︎ ↩︎
South Dakota Electrical Commission - Licensing Information: http://dlr.sd.gov/electrical ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
CareerOneStop - Licensed Occupations: https://www.careeronestop.org/Toolkit/Training/find-licenses.aspx ↩︎
South Dakota Department of Labor - Registered Apprenticeship: https://www.apprenticeship.gov/ ↩︎

Data sources

Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.

Data	Provider	Vintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	May 2025
Employment Projections	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System	National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)	2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirements	CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programs	CareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2025-10-25)
O*NET occupation profiles (skills, tasks, tools, job zones)	U.S. Department of Labor (O*NET / Employment & Training Admin.)	O*NET 29.1 (updated 2026-06-13)